KWS business fields

The operating business of the KWS Group is managed in the three product segments of maize, sugarbeet and cereals.

The business units are supported by research and development, as well as administrative functions. Due to the integrated structure, the individual segments are closely interrelated.

Entrepreneurial independence of the business units ensures that the KWS Group is able to adapt more flexibly to different conditions and quickly implement competitive advantages.

This enables us to focus on the respective markets, customers and products in each segment, and at the same time produce synergies in research and breeding.

What we do.

Our value chain extends from variety development to propagation and production of these varieties, to marketing and distribution to farmers around the world.

Seeds from development, to breeding, to distribution

The aim of our breeding work is to offer every farmer - whether they use conventional or organic farming - varieties and solutions targeted to their needs. This is the basis for efficient, productive and sustainable agriculture.

Seed propagation under suitable climatic conditions is just as important as technical preparation with the highest quality standards and logistics, which ensures intact and punctual delivery.

Sales and growth planning
Production begins with sales and propagation planning. In the process, the potential for growing each variety in the markets is estimated in order to determine production requirements. Planning starts up to three years before the seeds are sold to farmers - plants need time to grow.

Propagation and field production
To ensure outstanding seed quality, it is important to observe high and culture-specific requirements. These include, for example, spacing controls between propagation areas of different varieties of a crop. Such minimum distances are intended to prevent the entry of undesired varietal properties by the pollen of other stocks. During the time on the field, specialists monitor the stocks. Propagation is completed with the harvest.

Maturity and fertilisation
The flowering is the centrepiece of breeding. It is here that the crossing process begins. The flowering must be pollinated to produce seeds or fruits. Without pollination, there can be no fertilisation, and also no seeds. Pollination is essential for seed production.

Preparation
The raw material is processed after the harvest. It is cleaned, gently dried and sorted by size (calibrated). All processes are designed to treat the seeds gently, so that the seedling remains protected and optimal germination is ensured.

The technical processes are based on the nature and size of the seeds of different crops. Maize is harvested as cobs and only removed from the cob after drying. The naturally edged sugarbeet seed, on the other hand, still needs to be polished and pilled before the round "pill" is created, which enables single seed sowing.

Quality inspection
Throughout the propagation process, each batch is examined again and again. Checks are carried out to ascertain whether the seed actually has all the quality features and properties, such as resistance to diseases or quality-determining ingredients. Germination and the driving force of the seeds are also determined. Only when the seed has been "put through its paces" and it has passed all checks, is it released for sale, packaged and shipped. In this way, farmers are guaranteed to receive seed of the highest quality.

Packaging and certification
Seed production is mainly organised by the breeders themselves. However, depending on the type of crop, it may happen in cooperation with several agricultural partners and processing plants. After a range of official and quality checks, the seeds are then ready for sale. Packaging and certification in Germany for example, takes place under regulatory control. This ensures that only certified seed with high germination and varietal purity reaches the market.